Topic: Alden McLaughlin
Questions raised over Olympic ‘scholarships’
Two students were given ‘sports contracts’ of $28,000-a-year to train independently for the 2016 Olympics without any input from the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee or Ministry of Sports, an internal government investigation into the Young Nation Builder’s Scholarship Fund has revealed.
Public standards bill due in January
Legislation dictating proper standards and practices for public servants is due to come before lawmakers next month.
Cayman, US sign FATCA pact
The Cayman Islands and the United States signed an agreement last week that will be the basis for the automatic exchange of tax information under the U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.
PAC chairman laments ‘lack of transparency’
The absence of timely financial statements and annual reports from government ministries is preventing the Public Accounts Committee from effectively doing its key job of scrutinizing public spending, the committee’s chairman Roy McTaggart said on Tuesday.
Little change in veteran MLA interests
We take a look at some interests of the elder statesmen in the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly.
Leaders to consult on beneficial ownership registry
Leaders of Britain’s 14 Overseas Territories, including Cayman, agreed to consider establishing public registries listing the beneficial owners of trusts and companies following a summit in London.
Premier: Budget year move not costly
Government has many "practical" considerations in moving and extending its budget year.
Plan to scrap ‘disastrous’ scholarship fund
Government could face legal action if it fails to honor scholarship agreements handed out under the controversial Young Nation Builders Scholarship Fund, former Premier McKeeva Bush claimed Monday in response to allegations that he handed out excessive grants to political favorites.
Protect Caymanians — not bugs, slugs and scorpions
This newspaper is in unalloyed opposition to the premise underlying the bill: that government can and should dictate what people can or cannot do with their own property.
Human Rights Commission: UK, Cayman must justify wiretap plan
Neither the Cayman Islands nor United Kingdom government has properly justified the exclusion of the judiciary in the issuance of investigative warrants allowing local police to intercept phone calls, emails and other private communications, according to the Human Rights Commission.
Opposition leader says police tapped his phone
Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush accuses the UK of "illegal" wiretaps.
‘Financial independence’ targeted by mid-2016
The Cayman Islands government will cut $22.5 million in expenses during its next two budget years and will not enact any "new" revenue measures, according to Finance Minister Marco Archer.
London calling for premier
Premier Alden McLaughlin will leave the Cayman Islands Saturday to travel to London to attend the annual Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council meeting.
Creative crimefighting
The Cayman Islands needs more discussion of novel approaches to criminal justice.
Clinics for blood tests ruling under review
Local doctors meet with Cayman's leader as controversy over work permit blood testing intensifies.
Raise the Cayman flag, not the white flag
Cayman Islands representatives should be leading the charge against U.K. oversight of wiretapping, not surrendering already.
Premier: No ‘war’ with UK over wiretapping
Cayman's premier says UK-authorized wiretaps will happen, but a robust oversight process will keep it in check.
Impact of super typhoon felt in Cayman Islands
Cayman's 2,500-strong Filipino community has felt the impact of Typhoon Haiyan.
Alden deserves props for trying
The local sports tourism industry got another boost from the staging of the SteppingStones North America and Caribbean Rugby Association sevens over the weekend.
Stand with Cayman’s Filipino community
The catastrophic landfall of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines provides the opportunity for the Cayman Islands to support our Filipino community.
Work permit, staffing plan boards named
Two key immigration-related boards get new members.
Cayman signs tax info exchange
The Cayman Islands and the U.K. signed an intergovernmental agreement governing the automatic exchange of information about U.K. taxpayers who hold Cayman Islands accounts.
On wiretapping: Why no judges? (You be the judge)
When it comes to issuing warrants for police wiretapping, the judiciary needs to be involved, not just the governor.
Points off residency for bad behavior
Applicants for permanent residence under the revised Cayman Islands Immigration Law can lose points in their effort if they are mean to co-workers, among other regulations.
McKeeva: The judiciary should control wiretapping
Opposition Leader McKeeva Bush, in a letter published in Monday’s Caymanian Compass (Page 4), argues that powers granted to the police under the Interception of Telecommunication Regulations “should only be used in very sparing circumstances and in a manner in which permission to do so is given by an impartial tribunal such as the courts.”
UK overseas territories minister coming to Cayman
The UK overseas territories minister drops into Cayman for a visit on Tuesday.
Wiretapping furor: Who’s listening?
The government should prevent, stop and/or undo enhanced police surveillance initiatives.
Judge, not governor, should oversee wiretapping
Writer argues for judicial oversight over wiretapping in the Cayman Islands.
More than 1,000 permits extended
Nearly 200 Term Limit Exemption Permits are left in limbo after a two-day immigration blitz.
Government: Civil servants will be rolled over after changes
Term limits for non-Caymanian workers in the civil service will likely be decided on next year.
Premier: Government plans to go ahead with cruise dock
Premier Alden McLaughlin indicated this afternoon that
government intends to proceed with plans to build cruise berthing facilities in
George Town harbor.
Governor favors four-year budget
Cayman looks at a longer-term budgeting process.
Flood of expats to immigration likely
Cayman residents who don't hold Term Limit Exemption Permits might try to avoid the Immigration Department building for the next two days.
Governor: Use the police to police
Cayman's governor says the police should be used to fight crime on the streets, not to handle bureaucratic licensing functions.
Lawmakers approve $549M spending plan
Disputes over why Caymanians weren’t hired for various government jobs dominated a two-week debate over the government’s $549 million spending plan for 2013/14, which was formally approved Wednesday.
1,500 non-Caymanian workers get reprieve
Massive changes to Cayman's immigration legislation are passed in the dead of night.
Deep political divides on immigration bill
Fundamental changes to Cayman's immigration policies are approved in a split vote by lawmakers.
Helping hands vs. handouts
The nanny state lifestyle is too expensive for Cayman to maintain.
Official: Fewer families receiving social services
Cayman's "welfare state" issues may have been overstated.
Sexwale: Use football to fight racism
An international football summit opened with a gala event at the Ritz-Carlton Monday night.
Premier pushes for more electronic monitors
Cayman's criminal justice system could get double the number of electronic monitors for prisoners in next year's budget.
Concern arises over lawmakers ‘dictating’ hiring
Civil service hiring practices, and elected lawmakers' role in those decisions, take center stage in the Legislative Assembly.
The politics of personality
The North Side and East End lawmakers may have more success with reasonable proposals if they acted more reasonably.
Legislators hold line on police funding
Despite the efforts of some Members of the Legislative Assembly, the police budget is not increased.
Premier: Budget criticisms ‘have merit’
Cayman's top elected official says he wishes the government budget process was more descriptive and less cumbersome.
Police: Funding for marine patrol slashed
Funding for the police marine unit and other areas of the RCIPS comes under scrutiny.
Editorial: A moment of comity: Don't let it pass
The new premier should accept the former premier's offer of detente.
Lawmakers delve into legal aid again
Cayman's government tries one more time for legal aid reform.
Police: Murder cases not gang warfare
Local police say there appears to be no connection, or any particular gang affiliation, in three recent homicides.
Annual Silent Witness March scheduled for Friday
The annual Silent Witness march takes place on Friday, Oct. 18, at 5:30 p.m. from the Government Administration Building to Celebration Square.
Protesters pan immigration bill, government
An immigration-related protest livens up proceedings at the Cayman Islands Legislative Assembly Friday.
Editorial for October 11: A patient’s right to privacy
The proposal to create a mandatory cancer registry in the Cayman Islands is an unwarranted government intrusion.
Mandatory cancer registry proposed
Experts have declared unqualified support for Cayman Islands Premier Alden McLaughlin’s announcement in the Legislative Assembly of official efforts to create a mandatory national cancer registry, boosted by explicit reassurances over privacy concerns.
New governor scopes out George Town communities
Governor Helen Kilpatrick tours George Town.
Premier: National Conservation Law will receive unanimous support
The long awaited National Conservation Law, providing protection for Cayman’s endemic and endangered species, including sharks, and elevating the importance of environmental considerations in future development, will be passed by the end of the year, according to Premier Alden McLaughlin.
Cabinet to get code of conduct
Cayman is about to get serious on ethical standards for public officials.
Gov’t braces for rush on permanent residency applications
Government expects as many as 2,000 permanent residence applications by next June.
Compliance officers to enforce new immigration rules
The Immigration Department will employ 13 fresh staff, including five “compliance officers,” to ensure enforcement of new regulations governing employment and work permits, aimed at countering joblessness among Cayamanians.
Editorial for October 9: A prudent budget: Meeting expenses, paying down debt
The government's budget appears to be great, but let's take a closer look.
Rivers case heading to appellate court next month
The Court of Appeal will hear on 15 Nov. a constitutional challemnge to August's Tara Rivers verdict, scheduling a half-day session for the case as part of the final three-week, three-judge gathering for 2013.
$100M surplus projected in gov’t budget
The new government budget posts an ambitious plan for an operating budget surplus.
Residency to become more difficult
Non-Caymanians can still obtain the right to live in Cayman for the rest of their lives...it will just be much harder.
Legislators meet on crime spree
Add another armed robbery to the tally, as a central George Town pizza delivery shop was hit by two suspects Wednesday night.
UK extends borrowing ban
Cayman agrees to extend its 'borrowing ban' for at least one more year.
Editorial for October 2: Civil service review: Must we?
If the government's looking to cut expenses, start with the unheeded reports on how to cut expenses.
Report: ‘Outside expertise’ needed to cut civil service
Another call made for another private sector review with an eye to cutting the Cayman Islands civil service.
Premier: Open government, but no weekly press briefings
Cayman has a right to know, but no weekly press briefings.
Premier praises police helicopter
The often criticized RCIPS helicopter appears to have finally gotten its due.
New fees, development guiding budget plans
The full-year spending plan for the Cayman Islands government’s 2013/14 budget will contain one new category of fees – largely aimed at the financial services industry – and will depend heavily on the establishment of several public-private sector development projects, Premier Alden McLaughlin said.
Government pushes for companies to hire locals
Premier Alden McLaughlin promised a "two-pronged approach" to resolve the territory's problems with local unemployment Thursday in his first address to the Chamber of Commerce legislative luncheon.
Human rights prompt new police jail cells
The modular buildings will be able to hold up to 24 police prisoners.
Bush: Premier ‘hypocritical’ on travel
A war of words between Cayman's premiers, past and present, over government-sponsored travel.
